Perl: Insecure temporary file creation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200412-04 / perl
Release Date	December 07, 2004
Latest Revision	December 07, 2004: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
dev-lang/perl	< 5.8.5-r2, = 5.8.6	revision >= 5.8.5-r2, >= 5.8.6-r1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #66360

Synopsis

Perl is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.

2. Impact Information

Background

Perl is a stable, cross-platform programming language created by Larry Wall.

Description

Some Perl modules create temporary files in world-writable directories with predictable names.

Impact

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When a Perl script is executed, this would result in the file being overwritten with the rights of the user running the utility, which could be the root user.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Perl users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=perl-5.8.5-r2"

4. References

Updated December 07, 2004

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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